Bedford · 14 venues · 8 with a PA

Grassroots Venues in Bedford

Every grassroots room in Bedford - capacity, backline, who books it.

By size: 3 small (under 150), 2 mid-size (150 to 499), 1 large (500+), 8 with no size listed. 13 of the 14 open rooms are verified. 0 with full backline, 2 with a sound engineer.

Nearby

London Glasgow Manchester

What's on List your venue

Updated 12 November 2026

At a glance

Bedford

Grassroots
venues

in Bedford

In detail

House PA	8 venues
Full backline	0 venues
In-house engineer	2 venues
Venue Score	47 /100

01 — Find a venue

14 rooms

Pick your room

Size

Kit

Hire

City

Sort

Photo: Google 1,000 cap Bedford Corn ExchangeCastle · BedfordHouse PAEngineerThu 19 Nov The Shires

Bedford ParkBedfordKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

Brewpoint Taproom & BreweryBedfordHouse PANo gigs listed yet 300Cap

Esquires BedfordBedford Town Centre · BedfordHouse PAEngineerFri 13 Nov Gary Stewart presents ‘Graceland – 40th Anniversary Show’ 300Cap

St John's ArmsMelchbourne village, north Bedfordshire · MelchbourneKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

The Bedford ArmsOakley · BedfordKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

The Castle17 Newnham St · BedfordHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

The Cellar BarBedfordHouse PANo gigs listed yet 120Cap

The Eagle BookshopBedfordKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

The Flower PotTavistock Street · BedfordHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

02 — The scene

Venue Score

Out of
100

Emerging — genres and coverage already on the map; a Bedford scene on the way up.

How it adds up (0-100)

Choice	35
Coverage	88
Backline	0
PA	57
Engineer	14
Genres	100

03 — Rooms + kit

Live data

What Bedford has

By size

Small under 150	3 50%
Medium 150-499	2 33%
Large 500+	1 17%
Size not listed	8

Rooms with no size listed show under every size in 01.

Kit

Bring your own	6 43%
PA only	8 57%
Full backline	0 0%

This month

Added	0
Removed	0
Verified	0
Re-verified	0

04 — More of Bedford

Beyond the rooms

Gigs, mics + hire

Go next

Featured venueBedford Corn ExchangeBedford · 1,000 cap
Bedford gigsWhat's on at these rooms, by date
What's on this weekEvery gig over the next seven days
Bedford open micsWeekly stage time, re-checked on a rolling cycle
Bedford music sceneVenues, rates, guides and gigs

Private hire

2 Bedford venues say on their own websites that they take private hire - parties, weddings and work events. Each card opens the venue’s rooms, capacities and how to enquire.

Bedford Corn ExchangeUp to 1,000 standing

Esquires BedfordPrivate hire

05 — Other cities

90 cities

Venues elsewhere

London Glasgow Manchester

All cities, A–ZVenues

Aberdeen27 Aberystwyth10 Accrington12 Aldershot16

Basildon21 Bath36 Belfast77 Billericay6 Birmingham80 Blackburn11 Blackpool47 Boston12 Bournemouth30 Bradford42 Brighton94 Bristol86 Broxbourne12

Cambridge31 Cardiff63 Carlisle19 Chelmsford13 Cheltenham27 Cirencester8 Coventry46 Crawley14

Derby38 Derry14 Doncaster19 Dublin3 Dundee35 Durham17

Edinburgh118 Egham17 Epsom18 Exeter48

Farnborough6

Glasgow168 Gloucester21 Grimsby11

Hastings24 Hereford23 High Wycombe14 Horley4 Hull32

Inverness29 Ipswich35

Leeds92 Leicester40 Lincoln22 Liverpool130 London302 Luton16

Maidstone22 Manchester164 Margate32 Middlesbrough27 Milton Keynes18

Newcastle75 Newquay20 Newry8 Northampton26 Norwich38 Nottingham79

Oxford35

Peterborough22 Plymouth34 Portsmouth30 Preston28

Rawtenstall25 Reading32

Scarborough17 Sheffield94 Southampton47 Stockton-on-Tees16 Stoke-on-Trent32 Sunderland23 Sutton14 Swansea34 Swindon19

Telford21 Tunbridge Wells10

Waterlooville12 Watford24 Welshpool4 Weymouth18 Woking16 Wolverhampton49 Worthing1 Wrexham31

York48

Live music on stage: a band under the lights

Bedford Venues

Grassroots Venues in Bedford

Q: How many grassroots music venues are in Bedford?

GigXchange lists 14 grassroots music venues in Bedford, from small pub back rooms to mid-size standing rooms. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. Browse the full national directory at UK Venue Directory.

Q: Which Bedford venues provide full backline?

0 of 14 Bedford venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 8 provide at least a PA system. 2 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

Q: Which Bedford venues can you hire for a private event?

2 Bedford venues state on their own websites that they take private hire for parties, weddings and work events, among them Bedford Corn Exchange (up to 1,000 standing) and Esquires Bedford. Each venue page has a Private hire tab with its rooms, capacities and a link to enquire with the venue directly. Use the Private hire filter above to list them all.

Q: What size are Bedford's grassroots venues?

Of the 6 Bedford venues with known capacity: 3 are small (under 150), 2 are medium (150–499), and 1 is large (500+). The majority of Bedford’s grassroots scene is intimate, small-room spaces.

Q: How do I book a gig at a Bedford venue?

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Bedford venue. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music, EPK, or social profiles. Check current UK fee benchmarks before quoting.

Q: Are there open mics in Bedford?

Yes. GigXchange also runs the UK Open Mic Finder for Bedford, which lists weekly open mic nights with backline, day, and fee filters. Open mics are the main pathway from bedroom to stage for most grassroots artists. See also our guide on getting gigs in the UK.

Q: What's on at Bedford venues this month?

The What’s On in Bedford page lists every gig we hold across these 14 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Bedford gig directory.

Q: What genres do Bedford venues book?

The most commonly booked genres across Bedford’s 14 grassroots venues are Acoustic, Rock, folk, covers, Pop. Many venues accept both original music and covers. Browse artist profiles by genre to find acts for your venue.

Q: What are typical fees at Bedford venues?

Fees vary by venue size and event type. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current percentiles for Bedford by band size and venue type. Door splits are common at smaller venues; flat fees are more typical at mid-size rooms. The Musicians’ Union publishes recommended minimums.

Q: Can I list my Bedford venue for free?

Yes. Listing is free. If your venue is already in the directory, open its page and press Claim this venue (or create a free venue account) to self-edit your profile and manage bookings; if it is missing, email support@gigxchange.app and we will take a look. Venues with TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS can also list their music policy.

14 grassroots music venues across Bedford. Capacity, backline, genres, booking info. Re-verified on a rolling cycle.

47/ 100

Bedford Venue Score

EmergingGenres and coverage already on the map; a Bedford scene on the way up.

Choice35

Coverage88

Backline0

PA57

Engineer14

Genres100

Capacity, backline and booking info for every Bedford venue

14 venues, from back rooms to big stages
8 provide a PA in-house
0 offer full backline
2 include a sound engineer
Booking contact for signed-up artists
Re-verified on a rolling cycle

Find out more Join free

Bedford's upcoming grass-roots gigs, sorted by date

One-off gigs at indie venues and community stages
Sorted by date, refreshed continuously
Free and ticketed shows
Every gig links its venue

Find out more Join free

Weekly open mic nights across Bedford — verified and mapped

Filter by night of the week
Sign-up times, slot lengths and fees
Most are free entry
Re-verified on a rolling cycle

Find out more Join free

Everything the Bedford scene has beyond the venue list

City guide: venues, promoters and bookers
Local rate benchmarks before you quote
How to get gigs in the city
Members near you on GigXchange

Find out more Join free

Reach artists actively looking for Bedford stages

Free listing — no fee
Claim an existing page to keep it current
Backline and capacity specs searchable
Booking contact shown to members

Find out more List your venue

Run a Bedford venue? Claim your page free — keep specs current

Last updated: 12 November 2026

14 Venues in Bedford

Bedford has 14 grassroots music venues listed on GigXchange, from a 70-capacity room to 1,000. Listings show the capacity, backline and PA where we hold them, plus opening times, so artists, agents and bookers can shortlist the right room before getting in touch.

Of the 14 Bedford venues, 8 provide a PA system and 2 include an in-house sound engineer; none lists full backline yet. See what these rooms have on over the next four weeks. Sign up free to view booking contacts and fee ranges.

grassroots venues hosting live music in Bedford

8 provide a PA system · 0 offer full backline
2 have an in-house sound engineer included
Booking contact, fee range and submission process available to signed-up artists

14
Venues: 8
With PA: 0
Full backline: 2
In-house engineer: 12 Nov
Last updated

What’s on in Bedford this week — or see what’s on across the UK.

Browse Bedford Venues

Search all 14 Bedford music venues by area, capacity, backline, PA, sound engineer or private hire. Every card shows the room size, what is on stage and the opening times we hold, and opens the venue’s own page with its booking information.

Showing 14 of 14 venues

1,000

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Bedford Corn Exchange

Bedford › Castle★★★★★ (—)

Historic market hall turned major live venue.Thu 19 Nov The Shires

Private hire up to 1,000 standing

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon10:00–16:00
Tue10:00–16:00
Wed10:00–16:00
Thu10:00–16:00
Fri10:00–16:00
Sat10:00–13:00
SunClosed

Traditional British pub with live music.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon11:30–23:00
Tue11:30–23:00
Wed11:30–23:00
Thu11:30–23:00
Fri11:30–23:00
Sat09:00–23:00
Sun09:00–21:00

Brewpoint Taproom & Brewery

Bedford★★★★★ (—)

140-year-old brewery and taproom with free live music.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon08:00–23:00
Tue08:00–23:00
Wed08:00–23:00
Thu08:00–23:00
Fri08:00–00:00
Sat09:00–00:00
Sun09:00–22:00

Bedford › Bedford Town Centre★★★★★ (—)

Bedford's best-known grassroots music venue.Fri 13 Nov Gary Stewart presents ‘Graceland – 40th Anniversary Show’

Private hire

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
Thu18:00–00:00
Fri17:30–01:00
Sat17:30–01:00
Sun17:00–22:00

Melchbourne › Melchbourne village, north Bedfordshire★★★★★ (—)

St John's Arms in Melchbourne hosts an open mic on the last Thursday at 8pm.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Bedford › Oakley★★★★★ (—)

Oakley village pub with Friday music nights.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–22:00
Tue12:00–22:00
Wed12:00–22:00
Thu12:00–22:00
Fri12:00–23:00
Sat09:30–23:00
Sun09:30–21:00

Bedford › 17 Newnham St★★★★★ (—)

Bedford's Castle Quay inn — open mic Mondays, folk and weekend live music.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon15:00–23:00
Tue15:00–23:00
Wed15:00–23:00
Thu15:00–00:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–22:00

Craft beer cocktail bar with live music.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed19:00–00:00
Thu18:00–01:00
Fri18:00–02:00
Sat18:00–02:00
Sun15:00–23:00

Bedford venue with a regular open mic nightNo gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Bedford › Tavistock Street★★★★★ (—)

One of Bedford's three oldest pubs — family-run real-ale house with free live music: Thursday jam nights, Friday live acts and occasional Saturday specials.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Bedford › Flitwick★★★★★ (—)

Flitwick centre with Motown and tributes.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:00–17:30
Tue09:00–17:30
Wed09:00–17:30
Thu09:00–17:30
Fri09:00–17:30
Sat09:00–17:00
SunClosed

Bedford pub with live entertainment.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
Tue20:00–01:00
Wed20:00–01:00
Thu20:00–01:30
Fri20:00–03:00
Sat15:00–03:00
Sun20:00–01:00

Bedford pub with live entertainment.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon15:00–22:30
Tue15:00–22:30
Wed15:00–22:30
Thu15:00–22:30
Fri13:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–22:30

The Wellington Arms in Bedford hosts an open mic folk tunes session on the last Tuesday at 7.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

View venue›

Venues You Can Hire in Bedford

2 Bedford venues say on their own websites that they take private hire - parties, weddings and work events. Each card opens the venue’s rooms, capacities and how to enquire.

Bedford Venue Scene in Numbers

Bedford’s 14 grassroots venues in one picture: how big the rooms are, what kit is on stage and how many take private hire. Use it to judge whether to bring your own backline and which size of room suits your draw before you start booking.

Grassroots venues · Bedford

From the
GigXchange venue directory

Room sizeof the 6 with a known capacity

3Small · under 150

2Medium · 150–499

1Large · 500+

What's on stageall 14 venues

8PA only

6Bring your own gear

8provide a PA

2have an in-house engineer

2take private hire

Acoustic · Rockmost-booked genres

How many grassroots music venues are in Bedford? GigXchange lists 14 grassroots music venues across Bedford. 57% provide a PA system.

Do Bedford venues provide equipment? 2 venues include an in-house sound engineer. The majority of Bedford venues are small (<150 capacity). Data from GigXchange’s verified Bedford venue directory.

Bedford Venue FAQs

10 answers about grassroots venues in Bedford, from how many there are and how big the rooms are to the kit they provide, booking a gig and listing your venue free - each answered from the venues listed here.

How many grassroots music venues are in Bedford?

GigXchange lists 14 grassroots music venues in Bedford, from small pub back rooms to mid-size standing rooms. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. Browse the full national directory at UK Venue Directory.

Which Bedford venues provide full backline?

0 of 14 Bedford venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 8 provide at least a PA system. 2 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

Which Bedford venues can you hire for a private event?

2 Bedford venues state on their own websites that they take private hire for parties, weddings and work events, among them Bedford Corn Exchange (up to 1,000 standing) and Esquires Bedford. Each venue page has a Private hire tab with its rooms, capacities and a link to enquire with the venue directly. Use the Private hire filter above to list them all.

What size are Bedford's grassroots venues?

Of the 6 Bedford venues with known capacity: 3 are small (under 150), 2 are medium (150–499), and 1 is large (500+). The majority of Bedford’s grassroots scene is intimate, small-room spaces.

How do I book a gig at a Bedford venue?

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Bedford venue. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music, EPK, or social profiles. Check current UK fee benchmarks before quoting.

Are there open mics in Bedford?

Yes. GigXchange also runs the UK Open Mic Finder for Bedford, which lists weekly open mic nights with backline, day, and fee filters. Open mics are the main pathway from bedroom to stage for most grassroots artists. See also our guide on getting gigs in the UK.

What's on at Bedford venues this month?

The What’s On in Bedford page lists every gig we hold across these 14 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Bedford gig directory.

What genres do Bedford venues book?

The most commonly booked genres across Bedford’s 14 grassroots venues are Acoustic, Rock, folk, covers, Pop. Many venues accept both original music and covers. Browse artist profiles by genre to find acts for your venue.

What are typical fees at Bedford venues?

Fees vary by venue size and event type. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current percentiles for Bedford by band size and venue type. Door splits are common at smaller venues; flat fees are more typical at mid-size rooms. The Musicians’ Union publishes recommended minimums.

Can I list my Bedford venue for free?

Yes. Listing is free. If your venue is already in the directory, open its page and press Claim this venue (or create a free venue account) to self-edit your profile and manage bookings; if it is missing, email support@gigxchange.app and we will take a look. Venues with TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS can also list their music policy.

07 — Keep up with Bedford

Free, weekly

One email a week. Gigs near you.

Keep up with Bedford

One email a week with the gigs coming up at Bedford’s grassroots venues - new nights, open mics and shows worth catching. Free to join and easy to leave, and turning up is what keeps small rooms open.

Help keep grassroots venues open in Bedford

—

A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Bedford. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

The rooms. Of the 6 rooms with a listed capacity, the middle one holds about 120 and 3 hold under 150; the largest listed is Bedford Corn Exchange at 1,000.

What they book. Acoustic, rock and folk come up most often in what Bedford venues say they book, out of 22 genres listed. An act that fits pitches best with a recent clip and a clear fee.

Next steps. To see which of these rooms are booking now, use the Bedford gig directory; new acts get stage time at the Bedford open mics, and the GX Index sets out the going rates. Hiring acts for one? See live music for pubs, clubs and hotels.

More Cities

Venue guides for every UK city we cover, each with the same filters and capacity data, biggest scenes first. Useful when you are planning a run of dates or looking for a room beyond Bedford.

Run a Bedford venue? List it free.

Listing is free. Already listed? Open your venue’s page and press Claim this venue to keep its capacity, kit and booking details up to date for the artists searching here. Missing? Email support@gigxchange.app and we will take a look.

For Artists For Venues For Agents For Promoters For Organisers For Fans

ForArtistsGet booked. Get paid. ForVenuesFill the calendar. ForAgentsRun your roster. ForPromotersBuild the bill. ForOrganisersBook acts for your event. ForFansFind tonight’s gigs.

Run a Bedford venue?

Claim your page free and keep your specs current - artists find you by size, kit and night.

Why list?Claim your venue

Venues like these feed the national Hardest Working Rooms table and every UK city's scene. Browse all UK venues.